Ellie grinned when I squeezed her hand. "Trust me, Mom. I know."
Mom embraced me, her arms tight around my waist. Then she stepped away, wiped the tears off her cheeks, and made space for Dad to step up. He spit out some gruff advice, told me he loved me, then dissolved into tears when Ellie hugged him goodbye. I hid an affectionate eye roll.
Ofcourseonly losing Ellie pushed him to the brink of emotion.
One at a time, people began to fade away. I hugged, joked with, and cajoled more people than I thought possible. The anxiety of being home had burned away one piece at a time, particularly after a few video calls with my psychologist after the disaster. A long, in-person appointment with her awaited tomorrow. Ellie would attend with me. Together, we'd create an action plan to tackle the PTSD—both from this weekend and the deployment. Something we'd both need.
A long road awaited, but this time it wasn't a lonely one.
Daniel stepped up to Ellie with a grunt. She stared at her boss from the Outfitters for a moment before she did the unthinkable and hugged him. He stiffened like a board, then wrapped his arms around her.
"Best damn guide I've ever had," he muttered into her shoulder, then stepped away. "You keep it up, Ellie. Those mountains need you when you get back."
She smiled wide. "I'll be back, Daniel. Give me three years. Then I'll return and run the store while you retire. Got it?"
He grinned. "Got it." Then he turned to me with a threatening finger. "You're the only twenty-one-year-old I can tolerate. Don't lose your position by doing something stupid, all right? You wouldn't face just Maverick if you break her heart again. You'll face all of Pineville."
Ellie laughed when I pulled her into my side again.
"Roger, sir."
Daniel's lips twitched with a smile, then he nodded, shook my hand, backed away, and disappeared into the gathering. As the crowd thinned out, only Bethany, Maverick, my parents, and a few others remained behind. Bethany walked up, eyes sparkling and happy.
"You're taking my girl, Dev," she said. Then she winked. "It's about time."
Behind her, a booming laugh rippled out of Maverick. He stepped up behind her, put a hand on her shoulder, and said, "Let's get the two of you to the airport. It's time for your next great adventure."
I pulled Ellie into my side and kept her there.
Where she's always been mine.
Forever.
